Robert Traylor
A colossal college basketball force whose NBA journey was overshadowed by a tragic draft-night trade and an untimely death.
1977–2011 (age 34)·American basketball player·Birthday: February 1·Generation X
Biography
Robert 'Tractor' Traylor's story is one of immense talent, complicated choices, and profound what-ifs. At the University of Michigan, his hulking 6'8", 300-pound frame and surprising agility made him a dominant force, earning him Big Ten Player of the Year honors in 1998. His nickname was a perfect fit. But his legacy became inextricably linked to the 1998 NBA Draft, where the Milwaukee Bucks selected him sixth overall only to immediately trade him to the Dallas Mavericks for a German prospect named Dirk Nowitzki. While Nowitzki became a superstar, Traylor's professional career never found that trajectory, spanning seven seasons as a hard-nosed reserve. His life was cut short by a heart attack at 34, a tragic end that refocused attention on the pressures and challenges faced by athletes of his size.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Robert was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Robert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Robert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2011Died at 34
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
Key Achievements
- Named the 1998 Big Ten Conference Player of the Year while at the University of Michigan.
- Selected 6th overall in the 1998 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks.
- Played seven seasons in the NBA for four different teams, appearing in over 400 games.
Did You Know?
He was traded on draft night for Dirk Nowitzki and Pat Garrity, a deal often cited as one of the most lopsided in NBA history.
Despite his size, he was a skilled passer and had decent ball-handling skills for a big man.
He played professionally in Puerto Rico, Spain, and Italy after his NBA career ended.
“They called me Tractor, but on the court I could move.”
